5 Reasons to Read Julie C. Dao’s Forest of a Thousand Lanterns
If you don’t have Julie C. Dao’s Forest of a Thousand Lanterns on your TBR, you probably haven’t heard of it yet. The novel follows Xifeng, a young woman who believes she is destined to rule the empire of Feng Lu. One problem: she’s a poor girl from a rural village with no ties to the emperor. Her rags-to-riches story unfurls from there, complete with magic, a forest-dwelling society, and a darkness inside Xifeng that slowly envelops both her and the reader.
If that alone isn’t enough to tempt you, here are five (more!) reasons you should read this book:
1) The Protagonist Is A Morally Gray Villainess
Let’s be real: a villain origin story isn’t easy to pull off. I dove into this novel without knowing Xifeng was modeled after the Evil Queen from Snow White, so imagine my pleasant surprise when the tale began to twist that way. When we first encounter this serpentine darkness within her, we learn that Xifeng is terrified of it, and even a little ashamed. She hides it from her loved ones and hopes her kinder side will overcome it. But as she inches closer to the emperor’s palace and the throne begins to feel within reach, her desperation grows, and she realizes this inner power can help her claim what she wants. Most readers have wanted something badly before, so it’s easy to sympathize with Xifeng, even as her actions become more questionable and less forgivable. You’ll likely find yourself rooting for Xifeng even as a part of you cringes at her methods. It may be confusing for a reader, but also emotionally challenging—a valuable feature in any book.
2) Book Boyfriend? Not So Fast
At the beginning of the novel, the love interest we’re supposed to support seems clear. Wei is Xifeng’s lover, the boy she’s had feelings for since she was small. But we soon discover that her feelings are complicated by fate. Xifeng’s aunt uses cards to read fortunes, and she consistently predicts that Xifeng will lose the one she loves. As a result, Xifeng is hesitant with Wei, despite how much she cares for him. One might expect that Xifeng instead falls head-over-heels for another, but is that exactly the case? Many factors contribute to Xifeng’s ultimate decision, and they’re not the ones that usually come into play for a love triangle. In fact, the romance comes from such a unique angle that I’m not sure it can be called a proper love triangle. For Xifeng, there’s much more than feelings at stake when it comes to what romantic partner she chooses.
3) Ambition As A Theme
YA novels tackle a whole spectrum of issues. In fantasy, the main character tends to be motivated by danger. Maybe the world is under the threat of some apocalyptic end, or the protagonist’s family needs rescuing, or the nation is preparing for war. Romantic interest may be on the line. If the character gets involved with politics or royalty, they’re often thrown into that situation out of necessity. Xifeng, meanwhile, fights tooth and claw to rise through the ranks at the emperor’s palace. Ambition is her driving force, to the extent that she lets nothing stand in the way between her and the throne. During her journey, Xifeng carefully studies how to use people’s weaknesses for her own benefit, whom to befriend, and how to manipulate conversations toward the outcomes she wants. Forest provides readers with a powerful antiheroine, one who doesn’t need to wield a sword to channel that power. Since she’s meant to be a villainess, the ends don’t always justify her means—but her relentlessness in the face of a world constantly telling her no is undeniable, making her a force to be reckoned with.
4) A Stunning Fantasy Setting
The empire of Feng Lu is rich with history and beauty, which Dao does an excellent job of weaving into the story. One important inspiration for this world is imperial China. While many fantasy novels mimic medieval England, Forest is refreshingly different—its Chinese influence can be seen in everything from the name choices to the clothing and architecture descriptions to the various myths and legends the characters speak of. One standout aspect of the book’s world is the tengaru race, which is Dao’s own invention. These demonic creatures resemble a cross between a horse, a wildcat, and a snake, and they’re able to speak with humans. Xifeng spends a short period of time among them, and while there, she makes some crucial discoveries about herself and the world she inhabits. The tengaru were so interesting and unusual that I wish Xifeng had stayed with them longer. Fingers crossed they’ll make an appearance in the next book!
5) An Unpredictable Plot
Okay, to some degree, you can guess where this plot is headed, mostly because Xifeng’s motive is so clear from the beginning. But villain stories play by a whole different set of rules. Does she reach her goal? Are we supposed to want her to reach her goal, since she’s based on an evil queen? Beyond that, Xifeng has many obstacles in her way, most of them political, meaning she can’t just take out a few goons and move on. Her words are her weapons. So, how can she worm her way into the palace when she lives in a small village with an aunt who watches her every move? How can she get into the good graces of well-connected people when she doesn’t know any? How is she supposed to get close to the emperor, the most powerful person in the empire, when he’s so attentively guarded? These were the questions that struck me as I read—not necessarily the whats, but the hows. I wasn’t disappointed by the results.
Forest of a Thousand Lanterns is on shelves now. Don’t miss it!